Palace: Team formed to probe airstrike that killed 2 soldiers

An FA-50 of the Philippine Air Force. Similar aircraft have been conducting airstrikes in Marawi City, where militants still hold several villages. 

MANILA, Philippines — A team has been formed to look into the airstrike that killed two soldiers Wednesday, Malacañang said Thursday, as it vowed to provide assistance to the families of the slain military men.

“On behalf of the President, we wish to express our deepest condolences to the families of the two soldiers who were killed in yesterday’s (July 12) air strike accident while fighting Maute rebel remnants,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

“We are saddened by this unfortunate incident and a team has been created to investigate the circumstances that led to this tragedy,” he added.

Abella said the government would not forget the two soldiers’ deeds for the country.

“These fallen men in uniform laid down their lives for duty, flag and country.  Government will remember their heroism and will provide the necessary assistance to their bereaved families,” he said.

Two soldiers died and 11 others were injured after an air raid in strife-torn Marawi City failed to hit its target last Wednesday. The two soldiers were hit by large debris of buildings that collapsed because of the explosion while the 11 injured troopers sustained shrapnel wounds.

It was the second military airstrike in Marawi that killed soldiers.

The first one happened last May 31 and left 11 soldiers dead and seven others injured.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had admitted that the jets that launched the air raid ran out of precision guided munitions, forcing the pilots to use ordinary bombs.